Week in Review 2-16-26

Week in Review > Week in Review 2-16-26

Posted by Buckeye Association of School Administrators on February 16th, 2026

FY26-27 BUDGET

Major tax sources exceeded collection estimates by more than $100 million in January, according to preliminary data from the Office of Budget and Management (OBM). January revenues of $2.9 billion were $127.3 million or 4.6 percent higher than expected, bringing the surplus for FY26 so far to $645 million or 3.7 percent more than expected. Total revenues for the first several months of FY26 have passed $18 billion. Sales taxes yielded nearly $1.4 billion versus forecasts of $1.35 billion, with the non-auto sales tax up $40.4 million or 3.4 percent versus estimates and the auto sales tax up $2.7 million or 1.8 percent. Income tax collections surpassed $1.2 billion, $72 million or 6.3 percent more than expected.

FY27-28 CAPITAL APPROPRIATIONS

Lawmakers have formally kicked off their process for collecting and vetting community project proposals for possible inclusion in the forthcoming FY27-28 capital appropriations budget. Organizations seeking community project funding from the state must turn in their proposals to legislators’ offices by Thursday, March 12. Lawmakers themselves will submit funding requests for projects they are supporting to their respective chambers’ finance committees by Thursday, March 26. Sen. Jerry Cirino (R-Kirtland), chair of the Senate Finance Committee, discussed his outlook for the capital budget process with reporters Tuesday following a meeting of his committee. He said he expects the capital appropriations bill to pass in June. “I’ll be meeting one-on-one with all 32 other senators to talk about their projects,” Cirino said.

CHILDREN/FAMILIES

Reps. Gary Click (R-Vickery) and Josh Williams (R-Toledo) held a press conference Tuesday on their newly introduced HB693, which seeks to protect parents who affirm a child’s biological sex — rather than gender identity — from punitive actions in the child welfare system solely on that basis. Click opened by citing Daily Caller reporting, saying the Cuyahoga County Division of Children and Family Services had a program to ask and record children’s gender identity and define parents as abusive if they were not affirming of it. He said that could affect custody cases and disqualify people who wanted to be foster parents, and hearing about it led him to work with Heritage Foundation Senior Policy Analyst Laura Hanford on drafting the bill. HB693 would prohibit government agencies from defining parents as harmful or dangerous solely due to affirming the biological sex; prohibit them from proactively soliciting information on sexual orientation or gender identity and expression or recording it in a database; prohibit them from compelling parents to “affirm a child’s false perceptions about their sex”; prohibit them from contracting with organizations that provide educational materials suggesting it is harmful to affirm biological sex; and prohibit them from denying anyone the ability to be a foster parent on that basis.

Gov. Mike DeWine and the Ohio Department of Children and Youth (DCY) announced Monday that the agency has received $14.7 million in federal grants to support access to early care and education services. The Preschool Development Grant – Birth to Five comes from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families. DCY and DeWine said the grant funding will strengthen Ohio’s early childhood system by upgrading technology, building a research and impact hub, and supporting early care and education providers through curriculum development, professional learning, and business support resources.

Sens. Bill DeMora (D-Columbus) and Louis Blessing (R-Cincinnati) held a press conference Wednesday introducing their new bill, SB341, which seeks to end child marriage in Ohio by prohibiting anyone under age 18 from marrying. The senators were joined by Fraidy Reiss, executive director for Unchained at Last; Emily Gemar, director of public policy at the Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence; Maria York, policy director for the Ohio Domestic Violence Network; and Stephanie Lowry, an advocate and survivor of forced child marriage. The legislation would set an absolute age requirement for marriage, eliminating current exceptions that grant 17-year-olds the ability to wed, the senators said. “It’s our principle at this point,” said Blessing in his remarks, “we really should not have a situation where children have the ability to get married in Ohio.”

EDUCATION

Two broad education policy proposals, including some budget follow-up items, will be a near-term focus for the Senate Education Committee, Chair Andrew Brenner (R-Delaware) told Hannah News. In a phone interview, Brenner said as committee deliberations resume this winter and spring, he’ll be focusing on his own SB311 (Brenner) as well as HB455 (Manning-Bird). Brenner’s SB311 includes some follow up on items left out of the biennial budget, HB96 (Stewart), including provisions on schools’ obligation to sell unused or underused buildings. The legislation specifies enrollment figures that can qualify a school as underused and addresses which educational entities have the right to purchase such buildings. “Local school systems have basically worked to avoid selling their buildings to community schools for the sole sake of preventing competition. Now, they won’t say that, but just looking at it and the fact that this seems to be a pretty common practice, I feel like that is something that definitely needs to be addressed,” Brenner said.

The State Board of Education (SBOE) spent most of its meeting Monday in executive session working to identify the next superintendent of public instruction. The accelerated timeline of the search was anticipated, current Superintendent of Public Instruction Paul Craft told Hannah News, considering his upcoming resignation effective July 2026. He added his leave may begin sooner than planned for reasons he didn’t specify. His expected departure, along with other temporary requests for leave on the board’s staff, has contributed to the swift hiring process, according to Craft, who added it’s all being done to set the board up well for the expected transition. Later in the week, the SBOE announced that it would hold a special meeting on Monday, Feb. 23 and possibly Tuesday, Feb. 24, to interview the following candidates for state superintendent:

– Shawn Braman, superintendent of Northwest Local School District

– Jeffrey Greenley, superintendent of Belpre City Schools

– Larry Hook, superintendent of Forest Hills School District

– John Shepard, Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (DEW)

– Julia Simmerer, senior executive director of DEW’s Center for Teaching Leading and Learning

– Philip Wagner, superintendent of Johnstown-Monroe School District

SBOE set the following dates for its meetings in the next school year:

– August, no meeting

– Monday, Sept. 14, 2026

– Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026

– Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2026

– Monday, Dec. 14, 2026

– Monday, Jan. 11, 2027

– Monday, Feb. 8, 2027

– Monday, March 8, 2027

– Monday, April 12, 2027

– Monday, May 10, 2027

– Monday, June 14, 2027

– Monday, July 12, 2027

Participants in the Department of Education and Workforce (DEW) Student Transportation Workgroup continued their deliberations on six tentative policy priorities and recommendations for student transportation across the state Thursday during its meeting. Susan Bodary, director at Battelle Education and the group’s facilitator, stressed the following are preliminary and that there would be another draft for members to discuss at its next meeting:

– Adjust the deadline for transportation plans, with the preliminary plan due in June, and final plan due on Aug. 1 each year.

– Establish “strong, collaborative” relationships between public districts, community schools, chartered nonpublic schools and families.

– Ensure that districts responsible for transportation have “accurate, timely” data on transportation needs.

– Build an inventory of “successful” bus driver recruitment and retention strategies for districts and schools.

– Consider revisions to the current transportation funding formula to better meet the needs of both public, community and chartered nonpublic districts and schools.

– Increase flexibility for public districts, community and chartered nonpublic schools to manage transportation.

The Senate Education Committee during its Tuesday meeting heard a presentation from the Greater Springfield Partnership (GSP) on its efforts to strengthen the state’s talent pipeline through student aptitude assessments. The presentation was given by Horton Hobbs, GSP vice president of economic development, and focused on YouScience Assessments and YouScience Navigators, both used as tools to assess and support a student’s overall career readiness. YouScience Assessments test a student’s aptitude, Hobbs said, and are given in the eighth grade. YouScience Navigators are individuals assigned to help students carry their aptitude score and interests through high school and onto the career field, Hobbs added.

Rep. Jamie Callender (R-Concord) is trying to bully and intimidate local school districts with recently introduced HB671 (Callender), and it won’t work, according to former Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Eric Brown. Brown appeared with several representatives of the Vouchers Hurt Ohio (VHO) coalition on Thursday to promise immediate court action seeking an injunction of the proposed legislation to withhold state funding from schools involved in legal action concerning the state’s school funding formula were it to pass the Legislature and be signed by Gov. Mike DeWine. Coalition Board Member Jocelyn Rhynard of the Dayton School Board said Callender had given VHO a gift with HB671, as the bill raises awareness of the egregiousness of the school funding system being litigated.

Rep. Rodney Creech (R-West Alexandria) was restored to committee positions Tuesday but not as a chair or vice chair, after Speaker Matt Huffman (R-Lima) removed him from all assignments last May. Creech was placed on the House Agriculture; Commerce and Labor; Local Government; and Public Safety committees according to notes in Tuesday’s House Journal. Asked about the action and what prompted it, House Majority Press Secretary Olivia Wile told Hannah News only that it “was part of a series of committee changes the speaker made this week.” In the Senate, Sen. Sandra O’Brien (R-Rome) was removed from the Finance Committee, according to a note in Wednesday’s Senate Journal.

The Fordham Institute said Tuesday that Ohio State University political science professor Vladimir Kogan will join the organization as senior research fellow. He will remain an Ohio State professor. “Professor Kogan is an accomplished scholar who has become an influential voice in education both in Ohio and nationally,” said Chad Aldis, vice president for Ohio policy at Fordham. “His work on governance details how often adult interests dominate school decision-making, provoking conversations about how to ensure students remain top priority. His analyses of Ohio’s COVID-recovery efforts assisted state policymakers in understanding the scope of learning loss — and the urgent need to boost achievement. His work with Fordham will continue challenging state and local leaders to seek ways that put Ohio students at the center of both education policy and practice.”

GENERAL ASSEMBLY/STATEHOUSE

House committees are moving to a system where witnesses upload their testimony via the House website. The move mirrors one made by Senate committees about a year ago. On the www.ohiohouse.gov website, witnesses can visit the page for the committee to which they plan to testify, follow the link for the specific hearing date, then click the “upload testimony” button. There, they can select the agenda item on which they plan to speak, provide personal, organizational and contact information, upload a PDF, provide a summary of their position and include any special requests.

The Ohio Senate Wednesday unanimously passed legislation that would allow Ohio companies to offer carbon offset credits to businesses that choose to purchase them. Sen. Shane Wilkin (R-Hillsboro), sponsor of SB151, said the bill creates a voluntary program, citing several reasons to add regulation despite its voluntary nature. He said businesses that choose to enter into these agreements will get certainty as well as confidence that these credits are real and the companies offering them are following the proper rules and guidelines. The bill was one of six that cleared the chamber Wednesday with a unanimous 32-0 vote.

Sen. Nathan Manning (R-North Ridgeville) spoke on HB55 (Stewart), opening his remarks by asking his colleagues if they were “ready to talk about the exciting world of probate law.” He said that while the topic may not be exciting, it will make a big difference as it addresses insolvent estates, or estates where there are not enough assets to pay all of the debts. It, too, passed unanimously.

Also passing unanimously Wednesday were the following bills:

– SB216 (Cutrona) to designate a portion of State Route 7 in Mahoning County as the “Clarence “Sonny” Smith, Jr. Memorial Highway.”

– SB228 (Craig) to create the “Lifetown” license plate.

– HCR13 (Hoops-Robinson) to urge Congress to designate the Buckeye Trail as a National Scenic Trail. Senators speaking on the resolution noted the designation will help bring federal funds to help maintain the trail and free up state funds for other trails.

– HCR22 (Roemer-Daniels) to encourage students in grades 1-12 to read the U.S. Declaration of Independence in the classroom during the 2025-26 school year in celebration of its 250th anniversary.

The League of Women Voters of Ohio (LWVO) Thursday presented a $20,000 gift to the Capitol Square Foundation for the Ohio Women’s Monument to commemorate the group’s founding. Designed by artist Brenda Councill, the monument will commemorate Ohio’s women’s suffrage movement and honor Ohio women leaders past, present, and future. Its construction and dedication are scheduled for later this year.

In other legislative action, the Senate Health Committee reported out HB52 (Deeter) which revises the law governing the practice of certified registered nurse anesthetists and the Senate Transportation Committee reported out license plate bill, SB28 (Craig).

HIGHER EDUCATION

Speaking on today’s challenges, Baldwin Wallace University President Lee Fisher, a former Ohio lieutenant governor and attorney general, invoked the opening line of the classic Charles Dickens novel A Tale of Two Cities : “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” “Those words could have easily been written today,” Fisher said at a recent City Club of Cleveland forum. “It identified a paradox that defines moments of great upheaval when fear and possibility coexist. It feels both perilous and full of promise. It describes our moment perfectly — especially the moment facing higher education.” Fisher said America’s colleges and universities are at the center of that paradox, adding that it is not a moment of “temporary turbulence.” “The headwinds facing us are the result of a structural shift that’s reshaping how we teach and how we learn, and actually how we live,” he said. “Institutions long devoted to inquiry, evidence and disciplined argument are regarded by many as elitist actors, rather than a truth-seeking community.”

Ohio students enrolled in short-term training programs may have access to federal funding starting in July this year, the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) said in December 2025 following the conclusion of its Accountability in Higher Education and Access Through Demand-driven (AHEAD) Workforce Pell negotiated rulemaking committee, where consensus was reached to expand the federal government’s Pell Grant program. Created to help students “attain high-wage, in-demand skills,” USDOE said the Workforce Pell Grant program will address shortages in the labor force by filling the growing skills-gap and strengthening the talent pipeline. USDOE suggested in a written statement the expanded grant program will help students get jobs such as emergency medical technicians and automotive mechanics.

IMMIGRATION

The Trump administration appealed a federal district court ruling that at least temporarily prevented the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from revoking the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) that enables Haitians in Springfield and elsewhere to live and work legally in the United States because of poor conditions in their homeland. TPS for Haitians was due to expire early in February, but Judge Ana Reyes of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia issued an order blocking DHS attempts to end the status. Reyes ruled that DHS Secretary Kristi Noem failed to follow the law on administration of TPS, which required her to assess whether current conditions in Haiti warranted an end to TPS and to consult with other agencies in doing so.

MENTAL HEALTH

Youth in juvenile justice facilities have higher rates of mental health disorders, including depression, suicidal ideation and suicidal behavior, a policy brief recently released by the Health Policy Institute of Ohio (HPIO) reports. Taking a deep dive into the “root causes” of mental health challenges for youth at risk for justice involvement, HPIO found the percentage of Ohio youth in juvenile correctional facilities in need of mental health support increased to 78 percent in November 2025, up from 67 percent in November 2019. The brief reports juvenile detention to be “harmful” for youth mental health, with research suggesting detention to “not effectively” deter delinquent behavior. In response to the reported findings, HPIO suggests policymakers strengthen crisis intervention, increase diversion from the juvenile justice system and improve mental health treatment access for youth in Department of Youth Services (DYS) facilities.

PENSIONS

The two Ohio public pension systems still invested in companies doing business in Iran and Sudan substantially winnowed their holdings over the past year. But Sen. Mark Romanchuk (R-Ontario) said nearly two decades after lawmakers pushed the pension funds to begin divestment, he’s growing impatient for them to take the final step. “Yeah, that’s absolutely taken too long. And we know it’s taken too long because other plans have been able to get to zero, completely divested themselves,” Romanchuk told reporters after Thursday’s meeting of the Ohio Retirement Study Council (ORSC).

TAXATION

Sales and income taxes levied at three or four times their current rates would be needed to supplant tens of billions of dollars in property tax revenue should a pending ballot issue campaign to abolish property taxes be successful, according to the Office of Budget and Management (OBM.) OBM Director Kim Murnieks wrote a memo last week to Gov. Mike DeWine outlining consequences of property tax abolition. Murnieks described her memo as a “high-level summary” that would be followed by a more detailed analysis should the abolition amendment make the ballot. State law requires the administration to provide analyses whenever issues make the ballot that would require spending of funds by the state or local governments. “Eliminating property taxes would immediately destabilize local budgets and force deep cuts to essential services, reducing or eliminating funding for local law enforcement, first responders, and schools, delaying road and infrastructure repairs, and threatening services for seniors and people with disabilities,” Murnieks wrote.